The Best Bike Rides Near Your 12 Favorite Cities

It’s easy to pass over a great ride because you don’t know the area, don't know the route, or just need a kick in the pants to mix things up and try something new. But don't worry: We're here to help you break out of your rut. We talked to experts, pros, and tour guides—and consulted Strava and Map My Ride—to find the best rides near you. So find your city, pump up your tires, and freshen up your daily grind on one of these awesome bike routes. (If you're looking for more, check out our book The Cyclist's Bucket List for a longer list of rad rides all over the world!)

New York City, NY

GWB to Nyack and Back. This 44-mile route with 2300 feet of climbing may be New York City’s most popular ride. Start at the George Washington Bridge, then meander into Bergen Country, New Jersey, before winding back to Manhattan. Extend the ride by starting in Central Park. That brings the ride to 62-miles total and adds 700 feet of climbing. Route highlights include Hudson River views, a quiet country road or two, Route 9W’s State Line Hill descent, and the Runcible Spoon Bakery, which is a mandatory stop for many riders. The Bakery’s muffins and coffee are legendary.

Chicago, IL

Salim Virji

Northern Section of Robert McClory Bike Path (North Shore Path). Ride to Wisconsin and back on this Chicago path that follows the historic North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad corridor. The path is asphalt in the south, concrete where the trail leaves the rail corridor for city streets, and a fine crushed limestone in the north. Start your route in Chicago’s Highland Park suburb and pedal through affluent suburbs before you follow active railroad tracks to North Chicago. In Lake Forest, you’re back on city streets and then rolling through expanses of woodlands and a golf course. Just before the Lake Bluff Metro Station, you can veer onto North Shore Bike Path to Mundelein, the Skokie Valley Trail or the 56-mile Des Plaines River Trail. Or stay on track through North Chicago through old electric towers, community gardens, and farmer’s fields. At the Wisconsin state line, the Bike Path meets the Kenosha County Bike Trail, which provides a tree-lined finish to the Kenosha trailhead.

Phoenix, AZ

Jeff Turner

Bartlett Lake. Pedal from downtown Scottsdale, a mere 20 minutes from Phoenix, into the stark and dry Tonto National Forest. Once you’re out of town, you’ll be on quiet paved roads lined with giant saguaro. The midpoint—the ride is an out-and-back—is Bartlett Lake Marina. Take a break here and cool off with a swim, refuel at the food concession, and refill water bottles. Add a visit to Sears-Kay Ruin, a 40-room relic of Arizona’s native Hohokum built more than 900 years ago. It’s a three-mile ride, and a mile hike each way. The ride climbs to 3280 feet and will put your legs to the test, especially in the heat of the Arizona sun. Plan accordingly. Extend it by continuing north past Bartlett Dam Road on a winding road through open desert.

Sacramento, CA

Ray Bouknight

American River Trail. This paved trail, also called the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, parallels the American River through preserved riparian habitat from Discovery Park in Old Sacramento to Beal’s Point on the southwestern banks of Folsom Lake. North of Del Paso Boulevard near Azteca Stadium the path intersects the Sacramento Northern Bikeway. The multiuse American River Trail is good for casual as well as fitness riders. Mile markers, trailside maps, water fountains, restrooms, restaurants, and scenic stops make it user-friendly, as do minimal climbing and lots of shade. Pack a bathing suit—you'll pass parks and swimming areas on the ride. Two miles of the trail is on-road in a designated bike lane, but most of it is human-powered recreation only. Out and back it’s 65.0 miles with a total ascent of 570 feet.

Denver, CO

mattmangum

Triple Bypass. Put a notch in your belt when you ride Colorado’s legendary Triple Bypass. The route, which is ridden as an organized race, can also be tackled solo. It’s a grueling 120 miles over five winding passes through the Rocky Mountains from Evergreen to Avon over Juniper Pass (11,140 ft.), Loveland Pass (11,990 ft.), Swan Mountain, and Vail Pass (10,560 ft.). Or do the ride in reverse. Ridden in one direction, it includes more than 10,000 feet of climbing, and you’ll need a ride home. Participate in the organized Triple Bypass, and the road will be closed to cars, except in areas where the race provides a police escort. You’ll also get the benefit of feed stations and a shuttle back to your car. Some riders also do the double Triple Bypass, and ride out and back.

San Francisco, CA

Oleg

Woodside to Pescadero. This 58-mile ride dishes out challenging climbs—around 6,000 feet of elevation gain, ripping descents, and panoramic views. Warm up on a five-mile mini-loop before diving into the Cat 2 climb up Old La Honda Road, one of the most ridden segments on Strava. Three miles and 1,295 feet later, you’re on Skyline Boulevard winding through redwoods at up to 8.1-percent grade. After a switchbacking downhill from Skyline Junction, a climb through Sam McDowell County Park, and a downhill into Pescadero, you’ll hit a few rollers before the 8.5-mile climb up Tunitas Creek, where the average grade is 4.1-percent and you gain 1818 of vertical in a single push.

Cleveland, OH

Tom Bower

Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath. This National Heritage Area was a former mule towpath for pulling freight barges. Now it’s a multiuse trail that heads southeast from Cleveland for 85 miles through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and four other parks and preserves. There are 49 trailheads along the route, which makes it easy to tailor the length of your ride or pick the surface you prefer to pedal—pavement, crushed limestone, or dirt. Wherever you pick up the trail, you can expect an easy cruise. The towpath grade is mellow for its entire length.

Salt Lake City, UT

Ken Lund

Emigration Canyon. Get a good pre- or post-work leg burn with a hammer up Emigration Canyon. The 15-mile ride starts downtown, and it’s a gradual ascent to Little Mountain Summit, approximately 1,300 feet and nearly 8 miles later. Start at Hogle Zoo, and keep an eye peeled for wildlife en route to the top. You can sometimes see deer, turkey, moose, and rattlesnake along the way, and at the summit you’ll have stunning views of Little Dell Reservoir off the backside. This ride is an out-and-back, but sweeping switchbacks on the descent are a nice reward when you roll back into town. Double your distance by dropping down the backside to Little Dell, climbing Big Mountain Pass, and then retracing your steps.

Bend, OR

Bureau of Land Management

Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway. The most popular bike loop from Bend, this route starts from downtown Drake Park and then rolls for 36 miles through stately forests and into scraggly high desert, with views of snowcapped mountains. The ride name comes from dual bridges across the middle Deschutes River, through fertile ranches and lush wetlands. On this lollipop, you also pass through Tumalo, a quaint, historic town, which has several restaurants where you can grab lunch before looping back to downtown Bend.

Boston, MA

Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Bay Circuit. Swap your 25cc tires for something more suited to gravel, or bring your mountain bike to tackle a section of the 230-mile Bay Circuit Trail. A horseshoe-shaped hiking trail that circumnavigates Boston inside the I-495 belt, the circuit is a network of dirt roads, singletrack, and doubletrack paths that pass through 37 towns. The idea for the greenbelt Circuit was proposed in 1929 to be an “outer emerald necklace” mirroring the string of Frederick Law Olmstead-designed parks throughout urban Boston. Currently the multiuse trail begins at Plum Island and ends in Kingston Bay, with many sections accessible by the MBTA commuter rail and other public transport. Check the website for current conditions and any closures—the trail is a work in progress.

Seattle, WA

hermosawave/Getty

Mercer Island/May Valley. Mercer Island, Washington was originally settled by the Mercer brothers from Virginia, who would row between the island and Seattle to pick berries, hunt, and fish. Now it’s one of Seattle’s most exclusive neighborhoods and a great place to explore by bike. Starting in Seattle’s Seward Park, you wander down rural roads in May Valley’s farm country, then cross the bridge to loop around the perimeter of Mercer Island. Detour for a dip in Lake Washington. The 77-acre Luther Burbank Park is on the waterfront with a swimming beach. In total, this moderate ride is around 43 miles and 1,265 feet of climbing.

Austin, TX

LBJ Library

LBJ Country Cruise. Just over an hour’s drive from Austin, Stonewall, Texas--population 525--is barely more than a crossroads in the middle of the Texas Hill Country. But Lyndon B Johnson was born here and used it as the western White House during his presidency. The ride rambles around the historic Johnson family ranch, which is still used by the family. Start at the State Park visitor center across the river from the ranch and follow quiet, paved, single-lane roads through nearly flat farmland and ranch country. And keep your eye out for white-tail deer on this 36.5-mile moderate loop. Deer are the most commonly spotted wildlife here.

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